New Oak Ridge Facility Will Help Keep Nation Safe
Goal: Train first responders on dealing with radiological events and ensuring nuclear safety.
A new training facility in Oak Ridge will help keep the nation safe from radiological events.
The Emergency Response Training Facility (ERTF) is the first building to open on the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology & Training Center (ORETTC) campus. The $15 million, 40,000 square-foot facility provides space, and advanced technologies, to train first responders and others in dealing with radiological events, and in pioneering best practices for nuclear safety.
“By the use of this technology, we will train current and future generations of first responders to a level of competence never achieved before,” says ORETTC Director Ashley Stowe.
The facility will train those responsible for safeguarding nuclear and radioactive material with the latest nuclear security, detection and nonproliferation technologies. Participants will also train in nuclear operations, safeguards, cyber and emergency response.
“The ORETTC campus is a great example of what is possible when state and federal partners come together around a grand challenge,” Stowe says.
“The Emergency Response Training Facility is a state-funded, low-hazard training building that leverages the latest in virtual and augmented reality, green screen and advanced production techniques to create immersive training for high-consequence radiological and nuclear response scenarios.”
Leaders in Science
Experts from the Y-12 National Security Complex are trainers in the new facility. Y-12 is one of the nation’s most important national security assets. Its missions include maintaining the U.S. nuclear stockpile, reducing global threats through nonproliferation and fueling the U.S. Nuclear Navy.
“We are offering first responders realistic, hands-on training, which leverages Y-12 National Security Complex’s 80 years of expertise,” Stowe says.
In addition to being home to the Y-12 National Security Complex, the ERTF facility and the ORETTC campus add to a rich history of establishing premier training facilities in Oak Ridge. More than 70 years ago, the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology was the only institution in the world offering comprehensive training in nuclear reactors.
A second facility will be the federally funded Simulated Nuclear and Radiological Activities Facility (SNRAF). When complete, SNRAF will serve as a technology demonstration space and train those responsible for safeguarding nuclear and radioactive material in the latest nuclear security, detection and nonproliferation technologies.
When the campus is fully operational, the economic impact will include creating 100 jobs, $40 million in annual income and $2 million in annual sales tax revenue for Oak Ridge.
The ORETTC campus adds to Oak Ridge’s status as one of the leading scientific and engineering centers in the nation and the world.
Get to Know Oak Ridge
Want to learn more about living and working in Oak Ridge, TN? Check out the latest edition of Livability Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
